It’s a story that has gripped Tamil Nadu and sent shockwaves through the world of Indian cinema and politics: Sangeetha Sornalingam, wife of actor-turned-politician Vijay, has filed for divorce after nearly three decades of marriage, alleging infidelity and emotional cruelty. The news, confirmed on February 27, 2026, by multiple outlets including Republic World and The Federal, comes at a crucial juncture for Vijay, who recently launched his own political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and is navigating the choppy waters of public life beyond the silver screen.
According to court documents filed in the Chengalpattu family court in Chennai, Sangeetha’s accusations are both specific and serious. She claims that she discovered Vijay’s “adulterous relationship” with an actress in April 2021, a revelation that, as she puts it, inflicted “deep emotional pain” and “shattered her trust.” Despite assurances from Vijay that he would end the relationship, Sangeetha alleges he continued to appear publicly with the actress at events and in movies, further straining their marriage and, as she describes, causing “prolonged mental cruelty.”
“The discovery of the affair led to a violation of marital trust,” Sangeetha stated in her petition, as reported by Republic World. She details a period of attempted mediation after the affair came to light, but those efforts failed to heal the rift. For the sake of their two children, Jason Sanjay (25) and Divya Saasha (20), the couple continued to live under the same roof, but Sangeetha says Vijay withdrew conjugal relations and increasingly neglected her physically, emotionally, and mentally. She paints a picture of two people living as strangers in the same home, with Vijay allegedly “endorsing” his affair by traveling abroad and attending events with the actress, whose identity has not yet been revealed in court filings.
The allegations go further. Sangeetha claims Vijay imposed financial restrictions on her, withdrew privileges she previously enjoyed, and curtailed her free movement, actions she says were meant to assert financial dominance and further humiliate her. In her words, the marriage now “survives only on paper” and has “irretrievably broken down.” Attempts at a mutual and amicable settlement, including personal discussions in November 2025, failed, prompting Sangeetha to file for divorce formally on February 24, 2026. The case has since been transferred to the Family Welfare Committee, with both parties maintaining public silence as legal proceedings unfold.
The couple’s story, once celebrated as a fairy-tale romance, began when Sangeetha, a member of the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora raised in the UK, traveled to Chennai to meet her idol. Their relationship blossomed despite religious differences—Vijay is Christian, Sangeetha Hindu—and they married in 1999 in a ceremony that drew the who’s who of Tamil cinema and politics. Sangeetha largely retreated from public life after marriage, focusing on family as Vijay’s star soared ever higher.
But as the divorce scandal broke, the spotlight shifted from Vijay’s filmography to his personal life, raising questions about how this drama might affect his carefully curated public image. Vijay, one of Tamil cinema’s most bankable stars, has long cultivated a persona that blends family man, vigilante, and social crusader. His blockbuster films—Kaththi, Mersal, Bigil, and Sarkar—project him as a champion of social justice, an advocate for women and farmers, and a fighter against corruption. This cinematic credibility has been a key asset as he transitions to politics, with fan clubs morphing into grassroots networks for his new party, TVK.
Yet, as BBC and Gulf News have noted, the timing of the divorce could hardly be more delicate. Political analysts point out that in Tamil Nadu, the boundary between on-screen heroics and real-life moral character is often blurred. “Vijay’s appeal has been partly devotional,” said Sumanth C. Raman, a political analyst, referencing the almost religious fervor of his fan base. For many voters, particularly older generations, perceptions of a leader’s family values and personal integrity carry as much weight as policy positions. The allegations of infidelity and emotional neglect threaten to undermine the “family man hero” image that has served Vijay so well both on and off screen.
But the story isn’t so simple. Divorce, while still a sensitive topic in India, no longer carries the same stigma it once did, especially among younger voters. Gen Z, who make up roughly one-fifth of Tamil Nadu’s electorate, may be less swayed by personal scandals and more interested in Vijay’s political messaging—his emphasis on Tamil pride, anti-corruption, and resistance to centralized authority. As Gulf News observes, these younger supporters could help buffer the fallout, provided Vijay can keep the focus on his vision for the state rather than the headlines about his marriage.
There’s also historical precedent for scandal not being a career-ender in Tamil Nadu politics. Icons like M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa faced their own share of controversies, yet managed to maintain or even enhance their political standing through careful image management and unwavering public engagement. Kamal Haasan’s political journey, on the other hand, shows that star power alone isn’t always enough to guarantee electoral success—especially when personal and political narratives collide.
Meanwhile, Vijay’s professional life continues to face turbulence. His upcoming film, Jana Nayagan, has been delayed due to certification issues with India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). According to The Economic Times, the film, initially set for release in January 2026, became embroiled in controversy over alleged misuse of religious and military symbols, leading to legal appeals and further scrutiny. This, combined with the personal turmoil, adds another layer of uncertainty to a period already fraught with challenges for the actor-politician.
For now, neither Vijay nor Sangeetha has issued any official statement regarding the divorce or the allegations. Their silence, perhaps intended to keep the matter private, has only fueled speculation and debate among fans, political observers, and the media. As the case proceeds through the courts and the public digests each new revelation, the question remains: can Vijay weather this storm and keep his political ambitions afloat, or will the fallout from his personal life reshape the narrative of his career?
Whatever the outcome, it’s clear that the next chapter in Vijay’s life—on screen and off—will be written under the harshest of spotlights.